To mark its centennial, the St. Louis Fed published "100 Years of Service." Read about the birth of the Federal Reserve and how the St. Louis Fed came to be known as the maverick in the Fed system. See how it serves not only financial institutions and the Treasury, but also educators, community development workers, researchers and the public.

Growth around the world is still below trend, but the U.S. is faring better than most countries. Among other topics in this larger-than-usual issue: the decline in labor force participation by youth, and the difficulty in measuring the underground economy.

Agencies Request Comments on the Following Proposed Rules

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is requesting comment on a proposed program designed to encourage the preservation of Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). The NCUA envisions a program of proactive steps and outreach efforts to promote and preserve minority ownership in the credit union industry and its role in minority communities. Comments are due by Sept. 30, 2013.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) are requesting comment on jointly proposed supervisory guidance for company-run stress test requirements for banking organizations with total consolidated assets of more than $10 billion but less than $50 billion. The stress test requirements were published in October 2012. This proposed supervisory guidance serves to assist the banking companies in meeting stress test rule requirements. Comments are due to the OCC and the FDIC by Sept. 25, 2013, and to the FRS by Sept. 30, 2013.

The OCC, FRS and FDIC are requesting comment on a jointly proposed rule to amend leverage ratio standards for certain U.S. banking organizations. The proposed rule would apply to any U.S. top-tier bank holding company (BHC) with at least $700 billion in total combined assets or $10 trillion in assets under custody (covered BHC) and any subsidiary insured depository institution (IDI) of the BHCs or covered BHCs. Comments are due by Oct. 21, 2013.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) previously issued several final rules concerning mortgage markets, including the Ability-to-Repay rule under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Mortgage Servicing Rule under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Mortgage Servicing Rule under TILA and an amended Escrow Rule under TILA.

This rule implements several amendments and clarifications, including:

This CFPB final rule establishes the procedures by which a nonbank covered person may be subject to CFPB supervision pursuant to reasonable cause that a person is or has engaged in conduct that poses risks to consumers with regard to the consumer financial products or services offered. The procedures outline notice requirements, available rebuttal options for the noncovered person, CFPB determination procedures and available relief. The rule was effective as of Aug. 2, 2013.

Regulation Z generally prohibits a creditor from making a mortgage loan unless the creditor determines that the consumer will have the ability to repay the loan. This CFPB final rule provides an exemption to these requirements for creditors with certain designations, loans pursuant to certain programs, certain nonprofit creditors and mortgage loans made in connection with certain federal emergency economic stabilization programs. The final rule also provides additional definitions for qualified mortgages and modifies the fee calculation requirements. The rule is effective on Jan. 10, 2014.

On Feb. 15, 2013, the CFPB issued a final rule adopting loan originator compensation requirements under Regulation Z. The rule included an effective date of June 1, 2013, for Section 1026.36(i), which dealt with financing single-premium credit insurance. On May 10, 2013, the CFPB published a rule proposing to delay the June 1, 2013, effective date. This rule delays the effective date to Jan. 10, 2014.

This CFPB final rule clarifies the method for making “rural” and “underserved” designations and retains certain existing protections for higher priced mortgage loans (HPMLs). This rule amends the final rule published in the Federal Register on Jan. 22, 2013. Additionally, the CFPB is posting a final list of rural and underserved counties on its public web site for use with mortgages consummated from June 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2013. This rule was effective as of June 1, 2013, except for the addition of Section 1026.35(e)—regarding repayment and prepayment requirements for HPMLs—which will be effective from June 1, 2013, through Jan. 9, 2014.

These joint final rules and guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) require certain financial institutions and creditors to establish written identity theft prevention programs designed to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft. The joint rules also require credit and debit card issuers to implement identity verification procedures where a change of address notification and a subsequent request for an additional or replacement card are received within a short period of time. These rules and guidelines were effective as of May 20, 2013, with a compliance date of Nov. 20, 2013.